Van Schalkwyk Speech 2005/04/06

Written by Marthinus van Schalkwyk

Thursday, 14 April 2005

(Speech during National Assembly Debate on Budget Vote 27: Environmental Affairs & Tourism, by Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, Minister Of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, on 6 April 2005) April 2005 Intensified Delivery Through Action: DEAT – Driving & Dealing with Change Introduction The former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and President Emeritus of the World Academy for Art and Science, Harlan Cleveland has observed that our generation is “the first generation in the history of the world that finds what people do to their natural environment is more important than what the environment does to and for them.” Madame Speaker, never before have our actions and our opportunities had so significant an impact on our world. Our choices today affect not only our own lives and those of our children, but also have direct consequences for the very shape of our planet. Weather patterns change when we act. Oceans rise, mountains crumble, deserts expand and whole species cease to be. Change is no longer felt only over the course of generations or limited to certain locations – it is noticeable, global and immediate. The challenges and opportunities of change are the very foundations of the Freedom Charter and our maturing democracy. Driving and responding to change is how our Department, in partnership with our private sector and civil society, will meet the targets and goals set by the President for our Second Decade of Freedom. 90% of Targets Achieved or Surpassed Speaker, in June last year we stood before this House and the NCOP and set out a programme of action ranging from finalising Air Quality legislation to streamlining environmental impact assessments, from delivering greatly-expanded compliance and enforcement capacity to a new domestic tourism campaign. I am pleased to report that about 90% of these targets, undertakings and commitments have either been met or exceeded in the past ten months – an achievement for which I thank and applaud the staff and management of our Department, our Statutory Bodies, our provincial authorities, and our other partners. We have not been idle on the other 10% either – we aim, for example, to publish draft regulations prohibiting the use of asbestos by the end of this quarter, our Deputy Minister will be speaking later in this debate about the Waste Bill and waste minimisation, and I will also be addressing other issues like our new Environmental Management Inspectors, the so-called Green Scorpions, next Thursday in the NCOP. Driving Change in Fishing Speaker, Members will recall that we are in the process of finalising the fisheries policies for the allocation of long-term fishing rights estimated to be worth about R70 billion over the next 8-15 years. The public comment period on the last of these new fisheries policies ends next Monday, and has already seen more than 50 separate coastal meetings by our Department with more than 4600 fishers since the start of March alone. In accepting the President's challenge to broaden black economic empowerment, we intend to affirm those small and medium enterprises that have committed themselves to succeeding in the capital intensive and lucrative hake trawl, south coast rock lobster and small pelagics fisheries by reserving up to 10% of the total allowable catches in the respective fisheries for SME's and a further 10% to reward transformation. Yesterday we announced for public comment the proposed new application fee structure intended to recoup the costs of allocating long term commercial fishing rights – most of which have been massively reduced to enable small-scale empowerment fishers to apply. In the white mussel and oyster fisheries, for example, the proposed fees have been reduced from R585 to only R100. Traditional line-fishers will, under these proposals, no longer pay R7000 but only R400 and then another R204 per crew member if their applications succeed. By contrast, under the new proposals a large company that was allocated 45 000 tons and which previously paid an application fee of only R6000 would now pay R2,25 million if allocated that same quantity. People will now pay for what they get. This, Speaker, is positive change, led by our communities and driven by our Department. National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment Launched Another positive change, Speaker, is the scientific research capacity in our Department that has been greatly strengthened by, among other initiatives, the creation last year of the SA National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). I am very pleased today to officially launch the results of the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (NSBA) – the first-ever comprehensive spatial evaluation of biodiversity throughout the country. The results are a warning to us all – 34% of our terrestrial ecosystems are threatened with 5% critically endangered; 82% of our 120 rivers are threatened with 44% critically endangered; three of our thirteen groups of estuarine biodiversity are in critical danger; with 12% of marine bio-zones under serious threat. This report places us for the first time in a position of scientific authority to identify which areas of the country need the most urgent attention and protection. Perhaps more importantly, the report makes specific recommendations as to how best to link conservation with development in these threatened areas – ensuring sustainable conservation and community upliftment. This assessment will now inform our National Biodiversity Framework – South Africa is the first country ever to include a comprehensive spatial assessment of biodiversity in its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Dealing with Climate Change Speaker, South African biodiversity is also under threat from one of the most noticeable and dangerous forms of change – climate change. The ten warmest years ever recorded have all occurred since 1990. From 1961 to 1990 alone the average annual temperature at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse rose by 1,2 degrees. Scientific modelling suggests that over the next fifty years the areas covered by our current biomes will reduce by more than 50% - with hotter and drier conditions reducing maize production by as much as 20% with massive knock-on effects for our economy. Floods and droughts, increased water-borne diseases, more frequent fires, and the extinction of more animal species are all likely results of this change, unless we act swiftly and decisively. Addressing climate change requires action on two different levels – the first is international action to continue to pressure developed nations to further reduce global emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG's) and to increase levels of assistance to developing nations adapting to climate change. The second level of action is domestic – we need to prepare our people and our economy to deal with the consequences of climate change. South Africa accounts for 1,4% of global GHG emissions and we need to find ways of reducing these emission levels. This year we will be carrying out a Greenhouse Gas Inventory and implementing our Climate Change Response Strategy. This includes working with all Government Departments, especially the Department of Minerals and Energy which has committed to reducing energy demands by 12% by 2015, through more efficient use of power. Addressing Trophy Hunting & Canned Hunting Speaker, one of the more topical issues in Environmental Affairs over the past few weeks has been the concern about trophy hunting in the buffer zones around our National Parks, where fences have been dropped. Our Department is not, in principle, opposed to regulated, responsible hunting, but we believe that a framework is needed to bring greater clarity to issues like hunting and harmonising land-use practices in areas adjoining national parks. Our new legislation will bring legal certainty to these issues in the future – ensuring that such relationships are dealt with in clear and defined contractual terms. Another concern is the problem of canned hunting of large predators. Draft Norms and Standards have been gazetted for public comment to put an end to this despicable practice. The public response has been overwhelming on an issue that is loaded with emotion and sentiment. I have also just received the results of a report on the extent and scope of this problem in all nine provinces. I am convinced, both by the public comments and the results of this report, that the draft Norms and Standards do not go far enough to remove this cancer from our society. Definitions and the scientific base need to be tightened, monitoring, enforcement and compliance needs to be made more implementable, and sufficient powers need to be reserved by the National Government to impose a partial or full moratorium on any hunting of large predators should specific provinces fail to successfully implement these standards. In order to decisively address both of these issues I am appointing a panel of experts which will include, amongst others, conservation and environmental ethics experts, to be chaired by Dr. Crispian Olver and including Khungeka Njobe (CSIR), Tony Frost (WWF), Nick King (Endangered Wildlife Trust), Stewart Dorrington (SA Professional Hunters), Marcelle Meredith (NSPCA), Dr Shibu Rampedi (Limpopo), Prof. Koos Bothma (Centre for Wildlife Management at the University of Pretoria), Dr Holly Dublin (Chairperson of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN - representing international conservation), Lambson Maluleke (Community Representative), Mlamleli Pukwana (FAWU), and a legal advisor. The panel will be requested to report back within four months on both hunting in buffer zones and canned hunting of large predators. Increased DEAT Capacity: New Bio-Safety Directorate Speaker, as technology changes so too do the challenges that we must confront and address. Concerned South Africans have spent a great deal of time and effort raising concerns about the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) in South Africa . I trust that they will be glad to hear that our Department will, in June this year, establish and staff a new Bio-Safety Directorate to coordinate and support our work in implementing the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety. At the same time SANBI will be working to expand and resource its own bio-safety capacity. The appropriate use of GMO's is an important debate that needs to be held more broadly in public discourse, and not just between small interest groups behind closed doors. R193m and Major Investment Drive for TFCA's Speaker, the transfrontier conservation initiative originated in Africa and now there are 169 such areas involving 113 countries and 667 protected areas. Southern Africa is driving this change. Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA's) offer Southern Africa one of the most important vehicles to ensure that our hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup brings real benefits to our neighbouring states as well. In addition to the R159 million which we invested in TFCA projects during the last MTEF cycle we will, over the course of the new MTEF period, invest a further R193 million in new projects – including more than R25 million in Limpopo/Shashe, more than R50 million in Great Limpopo, and more than R60 million in Maloti-Drakensberg . I am also pleased to announce that construction of the South African side of the Giriyondo Border Post between the Kruger National Park and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique has now been completed and is due to be officially opened later this year. Ons Departement gaan in die volgende twee jaar in samewerking met ons streeksvennote belangrike beleggingsinisiatiewe loods om kritiese infrastruktuur en toerisme ontwikkelingsplanne in ons Oorgrensparke tot uitvoering te bring. Hierdie inisiatiewe sal op Suider-Afrikaanse asook internasionale beleggers fokus - met spesifieke inisiatiewe in Europa en in die VSA later vanjaar. Beleggings in ons Oorgrensparke gaan nie net oor sentiment nie - dit maak uitstekende besigheidsin. [The next two years will see our Department engaging with our regional partners in a major investment drive to put into place the critical infrastructure and tourism development plans for our TFCA's. This drive will emphasise Southern African investors as well as the international investor community – with key initiatives in Europe and the United States later this year. Investment in our TFCA's is not only important because of sentiment – it makes good business sense]. Aiming for 1,8% - 2,1% Tourism Growth & R12m Tourism Satellite Account Speaker, the global travel industry showed real signs of recovery in 2004. Total foreign arrivals to South Africa increased by almost 1% during the first nine months of the year – to more than 4,77 million compared to 4,72 million in 2003. Although our overseas arrivals dipped marginally there were regional markets that showed strong growth – like Central and South America, as well as North America which increased by more than 11,5% and 9,7% respectively. Significantly our African arrivals grew by almost 1%. Abakhenkethi baphesheya babalulekile nabalapha nabo bakwabalulekile. Ukhenketho eMzantsi-Afrika lingokudala imisebenzi kubantu bethu. [ Overseas tourists are important but local tourists are just as important. Tourism in South Africa is about creating jobs for our people.] Sustained and sustainable growth in tourism remains our goal. Our targeted growth for 2005 is to increase total foreign arrivals by between 1,8% and 2,1% - much of which will depend on global economic stability, the intensified roll-out of our new international brand, and improving the competitive edge of our tourism products. An important key to that improvement is to develop better information about tourism in South Africa . I am pleased to announce that we will spend R12m over the next three years to implement a Tourism Satellite Account in partnership with StatsSA, the Reserve Bank and others. Amongst the most important information that this will generate for our industry is the specific contribution of tourism to GDP, the actual number of direct and indirect jobs in tourism, the quantity of tourism investment, and revenues generated by tourism across South Africa. There are few opportunities with greater potential to bring massive growth and development to South Africa than our hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We have decided to make full use of the German 2006 World Cup as the springboard for our own marketing and development drive. Giving effect to this decision will be a high-level South African delegation including captains of industry, sporting bodies, investment organisations, and our 2010 local organising committee which we will lead to Germany in June to meet with key German decision-makers and leaders in tourism, sport and culture. Lessons learned from their experiences in gearing up for this event will inform our own tourism and hospitality planning for 2010. Encouraging EIA Practitioners to Regulate the Industry Speaker, in dealing with change the approach of our Department remains to encourage and support self-empowerment and sector-driven regulation, rather than imposing new laws and regulations from above. One such sector which requires attention is the Environmental Impact Assessment industry. We met last month with senior industry representatives to express our concern about issues like the need for greater independence of assessors, standards in the sector, the urgent need for transformation, and industry fragmentation. I am pleased to announce that these representatives have undertaken to develop and present to Government, within six months, concrete proposals for the industry to proactively address these issues. Should such plans for the sector to take responsibility for change not be in place by September we intend to begin further regulation to address these matters. Conclusion In conclusion Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi as well as Hon. Elizabeth Thabete and all of the other members of our Portfolio Committee for remaining amongst the most actively and directly involved parliamentarians in the business of oversight and community action. I would particularly like to thank our Department, under the leadership of our Acting Director General, Pam Yako, the Ministry, and our Statutory Bodies. I would also like to take a moment to thank and pay tribute to our former Director-General, Dr Crispian Olver – an outstanding manager, and a truly likeable colleague whose contribution to our Department has been invaluable. Speaker, change is important – especially in a country like ours where so much change is still needed. The key is for us to be proactive about change – we have a responsibility to drive it and to deal with it, rather than simply waiting for it to happen. This is the understanding that will underpin our efforts in environmental affairs and tourism in 2005. Ngiyabonga. Ndiyabulela. Kea le boga. Enkosi.